From: Singh, Amitpal <amit.singh@yale.edu>

Sent: Wednesday 4 March 2026 03:00

To: obligations@uwo.ca

Cc: Private Law Theory Discussion Group

Subject: Yale-Toronto-Columbia Private Law Theory Discussion Group - Annual Workshop - March 26, 2026 - Invitation and Registration

Attachments: Yale-Toronto-Columbia Private Law Theory Annual Workshop - March 26, 2026 - Flyer.pdf

Dear ODGers,

The Yale-Toronto-Columbia Private Law Theory Discussion Group is pleased to host its sixth annual workshop on March 26, 2026, from 12:10-4:00 pm EST, and we invite you to attend. We have options for both in-person and Zoom attendance. You can register here, and more details are below.

The Private Law Theory Discussion Group is a collaboration between the Center for Private Law at Yale Law School, the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, and Columbia Law School. Our annual workshop provides a forum for private law scholars to present in-progress work and receive feedback via formal commentary and audience Q&A. We are generously supported by Professors Daniel Markovits (Yale), Larissa Katz (Toronto), and Shyam Balganesh (Columbia). 

There are several new features to the workshop this year, which we are very excited about.

First, as is evident from our new name, the initiative has grown to include a new partner law school: Columbia Law School.

Second, for the first time, this year's workshop will be held in a hybrid format, with Zoom and in-person attendance options in New Haven, Toronto, and New York City. Lunch will be served, and coffee and refreshments will be available during short breaks throughout the event at each of our partner law schools. We welcome those unable to join us in person to join us via Zoom.

Third, in addition to a keynote, this year's workshop will feature a fresh emphasis on workshopping in-progress papers by junior scholars in the field. Our four junior scholar papers were selected out of a pool of very competitive submissions in response to our Call for Papers. We hope you will join us to engage with excellent new work in private law theory from fresh faces in the field.

We also have a wonderful cast of commentators who will engage with the junior scholars' papers: Professor Sandy Steel (Oxford), Professor Andrew Gold (UC Irvine), Professor Gregory Keating (USC Gould), and Professor Jorge Fabre-Zamora (Buffalo). In addition, Professor Avihay Dorfman of Texas Law will close the workshop with a keynote that draws on his forthcoming book, Conflict Between Equals: Tort Law Beyond Wrong, Harm, and Cost (OUP 2026).

 More information on timing is below and in the attached PDF flyer, which we encourage you to share widely. 

Yale-Toronto-Columbia Private Law Theory Discussion Group - Thursday, March 26, 2026 - Workshop Schedule

12:10 12:20 Opening Remarks (with lunch)

12:20-1:00 - Junior Scholar Session 1: Matteo Godi (USC Gould Law), 'A Theory of Statutory Torts' with commentary from Sandy Steel (Oxford Law)

1:00-1:40 - Junior Scholar Session 2: Moayad Karar (Oxford Law), 'The Relationship Sensitivity of Tort Law' with commentary from Jorge Fabre-Zamora (Buffalo Law)

1:40-1:50 - Coffee Break (10 min) 

1:50-2:30 - Junior Scholar Session 3: Angelo Ryu (Surrey Law), 'The Disentitlement Theory of Negligence' with commentary from Gregory Keating (USC Gould Law)

2:30-2:40 - Coffee Break (10 min)

2:40-3:20 - Junior Scholar Session 4: Ethan Seidenberg (Michigan Philosophy), 'Rights-Based Tort Reform' with commentary from Andrew Gold (UC Irvine Law)

3:20-4:00 - Keynote: Avihay Dorfman (Texas Law)

Please register to attend the workshop, receive the draft papers, place your lunch order (for in-person attendees), and receive the Zoom link (for Zoom attendees). If you have any questions, or wish to be added to the Discussion Group's mailing list, please write to me at amit.singh@yale.edu or to the Discussion Group's email inbox at privatelawtheory@yale.edu.

We look forward to seeing some ODGers at the workshop!

Best wishes,

Amit (on behalf of the Yale-Toronto-Columbia Private Law Theory Discussion Group Co-Convenors)